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Review: David Bronson – Story

-Greg’s Take-

The self-made complexities of experimental sound are often complicated even further by the perplexing roads woven by love lost and lost, ultimately, in production; unless an artist possess a very rare skill.

Face it, as abstract as both can be, you’d have to be pretty focused and/or talented to harness them together.

New York City’s singer/songwriter/composer/producer David Bronson set forth to release a double album built upon the tale of “a young man’s loss of hope and identity following the death of young love, and the prolonged, arduous, and life-changing journey to re-find them.” Combined with his adventurous style, he aimed high. And it is not without a few oddities that he accomplished exactly what he set out to do; at least half-way there.

Story is an eleven track album built around a relatively unique sound. Bronson’s vocals tend to lean into the haunting side of Scott Weiland if they were produced by Ziggy Stardust. Bold and original, there isn’t anything like Bronson. Instrumentally he peaks on rock and lulls on acoustic slide while tending to everything in between.

As I ventured in to “The Turns,” the opening track, I’ll admit, Bronson’s vocals were nothing like I was expecting. The light, strumming rock, mixed with his passion filled lyrics dance together in an odd mix. His voice was tough to ponder until I started thinking about all the great songwriters that paved the way to Story and realized, although quirky, they’re refreshing and new. “Times” is the rivet that will staple Bronson’s name firmly into the “must watch” category. His pop style reaches deep within folk and pulls out an attention grabbing originality.

Strangely the B-side of Story moves with elegance, but fails to fully obtain the persuasiveness of the lead half. The album slowly drifts into a more story-like quality than he begins with. If we take a step back to see the whole picture, we’ll quickly realize this is not by accident. This was planned as part of the Story and it sets Bronson apart from the Ray LaMontagne’s of the world.

With a few odd quirks this album is just unique enough to keep your attention. Bronson harnesses a truly original sound; one that borders on almost soundtrack-ish. Each track needs the others and if you fall into the album, I mean really let yourself become consumed; you can almost feel the story, perhaps like a rock-opera of the mind.

Pardon the pun, but this is only half the Story. His debut album is the second-half to what will be The Long Lost and if that sounds odd to you, you haven’t listened to David Bronson.